Joining instructions from Santorini

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Santorni to Mykonos

Santorini to Mykonos

Thanks for deciding to come on an adventure with OTBT! We are very excited about the upcoming season and look forward to having you out on a trip with us. Every week will be a little different with as we have no set itinerary apart from our start and finish destinations. So you can plan for your holiday we've produced these joining instructions. Is there's anything we missed please email us: skipper@offthebeatentack.com

We will most likely depart Santorini a couple hours after we meet. Through the week we have possibilities of visiting many islands (Ios, Sikinos, Milos, Amorgos, Iraklia, Koufonisi, Naxos, Paros, Syros, Folegandros, Delos and of course Mykonos). Your skipper will decide after taking into account the weather conditions to which island we will visit. We try to visit at least 5 islands.

Arrival

Please arrive at our rendezvous point which is the “Taverna Dimitris VLIHADA Marina” right above the VLIHADA Marina at 2pm on the Saturday to meet the skipper and others travelling with us. That will allow us time for you to familiarise yourself with the boat so that if we decided to set sail that evening we can. The port of Vlihada, is in the south of the island. It is the only accessible port to use for overnight berths of a yacht our size.

Getting to Vlihada

The port of Vlihada is accessible by bus from the main town which run every hour, or by taxi which would be easier, but obviously more expensive. The OTBT yacht will be moored in the Marina. She is called IKAROS and will be flying either red or blue flags with the OTBT logo on. Please do not arrive any earlier as the yacht may not be ready.

Plan

When you arrive at the boat we will need to go through some formalities. Your skipper will need your passport details to provide to the port authorities. The amount of time this bureaucracy takes can vary, so I’d therefore appreciate it if you could let me have details in advance to speed things along.

There’s a form at the end of this page for each person sailing to complete complete. We will also need details of your travel insurance policy before we set off as you will not be able to sail without it. Before we set off there will be a safety briefing and a quick chat about plans for the week ahead. Depending on the weather, port authority red tape and a general consensus of what the group want to do, we will decide whether or not we leave that evening or if we stay the night in port and sail the following morning after breakfast.

Safety & Accommodation

Our Beneteau Cyclades 50.5 ‘Ikaros’ is fully licensed to charter for up to 10 passengers and is equipped with state of the art technology offering all travellers on board a safe and enjoyable experience. Find out more about the yacht by clicking the link below

Your OTBT skipper will be with you throughout your journey. The aim of the skipper is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible, as well as taking complete charge of the sailing, your safety on board and the safety of the vessel.

As this is a real sailing adventure, our skipper might also request your help on board and will be more than happy to impart some of his sailing knowledge during the course of the journey. Our skipper is a fully licensed yachtmaster with seven years of experience sailing in the area. He will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and you can expect your skipper to have a broad general knowledge of the Greek islands you will visit.

Space on board is optimised, sleeping quarters are snug, meaning that more of the boat is open for everyone to enjoy. Cabins are allotted by the skipper based on the gender and traveller make-up of the group. No particular cabins or berths can be guaranteed. Our skipper will pair up travel partners or if you are travelling single, with someone of the same sex.

Please be aware that as this is a real sailboat and not a cruise vessel and although this is a large yacht the space on board is tight. You will be sharing a compact cabin with one of your fellow passengers or travel partner and sharing the three bathrooms on board. The sleeping quarters on sailboats are generally kept to a minimum size in order to maximise public space and performance. Please note that the skipper has his own cabin in the bow of the boat, but will also be sharing the yacht quarters and amenities with you.

Our small group adventures bring together people of all ages. It is very important you are aware that, as a minimum, an average level of fitness and mobility' is required to undertake our easiest programs. Travellers must be able to walk without the aid of another person, climb 3-4 flights of stairs, step on and off small boats, and carry their own luggage at a minimum.

Travellers with a pre-existing medical condition must ensure they have the necessary fitness and mobility to comfortably complete this trip and know their own limitations for shore excursions. While our skipper works hard to ensure that all our travellers are catered for equally, it is not their responsibility to help individuals who cannot complete the day's activities unaided.

What to pack for your sailing holiday

What people take with them when they go sailing varies by the kind of sailing they are doing, where they are sailing, their experience and personal preferences, but here we try and give those uncertain what to bring some guidelines on useful items to have with you during a sailing holiday with OTBT.

Clothes

As your holiday falls between mid-May and the end of September, you won’t need much in the way of clothes! See our suggested kitlist further down this page.

It is preferable to pack in soft bags rather than hard suitcases as hard cases are more difficult to stow away in lockers on board. It’s a good idea to choose soft bags with wheels or have a collapsible trolley for ease of transport.

Toiletries and medication

Most brands of soap, shower gel, shampoo, sunscreen etc. are sold in Greece although they tend to be more expensive from the small harbour-side shops. If you take prescribed medicine, it is advisable to bring enough with you for the duration of your holiday. Although all our yachts have a basic first aid kit, it is a good idea to carry one of your own which should include travel sickness pills, antiseptic cream, insect repellent, antihistamine cream/gel for insect bites, after sun soother and anything else you personally may need.

Documents & currency

Don’t forget to pack your passport & EU medical card (which replaces the now defunct E101 form). If you are from a non-EU country you should check with your Greek consulate as to whether you need to apply for a visa.

Although you don’t need sailing qualifications to sail with us, if you are qualified please also bring any sailing certificates, as they are sometimes requested by the Port Police.

We may hire a car, motorbike or other vehicle whilst on holiday, so you should also bring your driving licence.

Your personal holiday insurance documents should be included in your hand luggage.

It’s a really good idea to have a photocopy of your passport and all other documents in a separate bag just in case you lose the originals.

We recommend that you bring a combination of cash together with your debit/credit cards. Most of the time it is better to buy your Euros in Greece. You can use bank ATM cash machines in most places to obtain Euros so long as your bank card operates while abroad; not all cards do.

Remember that the smaller and more remote ports we visit may have no banks and no ATMs and that in small tavernas cards may not be accepted. It’s therefore a good idea to carry enough Euros to buy daily supplies and pay for evening meals and drinks.

Eating & Drinking Out

Eating traditional foods and sampling the local brew is a big part of travelling. Breakfast and lunch are included in the price, but eating out for evening meals is not included in the trip price. When we stop over in a port the local tavernas or restaurants offer you a choice of eating options, giving you maximum flexibility in deciding where, what and with whom to eat. It also gives you more budgeting flexibility, though generally food is cheap.

Our groups tend to eat together to enable you to taste a larger variety of dishes and enjoy each other's company. There is no obligation to do this though. Your Skipper will be able to suggest favourite restaurants during your trip.

Ikaros is not licensed for the supply or provision of alcoholic beverages. However, you are welcome to buy and bring your own alcoholic drinks on board for your own or shared use. Due to the obvious dangers of living on a boat and restraints of being in close confines with others, it is important to drink sensibly so as to be able to move around the yacht safely and not be a nuisance to others.

Tipping

Through the week, unless we BBQ on the beach and sleep under the stars we will tend to dine out most evenings. Although service may not be what you are used to in your home country, tips are much appreciated by local tavernas and do get split between the whole service team. We recommend only tipping if you really enjoyed the meal and the atmosphere in the taverna. Just because one person tips doesn't mean everybody has to, as some people’s opinion on the meal or particular dishes may differ. Tipping in shops and bartering is not standard practice.

Tipping your Crew

If you are totally satisfied with your Off The Beaten Tack adventure experience then please feel free to show your appreciation to your Skipper and 1st mate. A standard tip in the marine industry would be up to 10% of the cost of your trip, but please only tip what you are able – and only if you think we’re worth it.

OTBT thrives on word of mouth recommendations by guests telling their friends and sharing memories and experiences of their sailing adventures on social media. Sharing a picture really can can speak a thousand words. We would massively appreciate your help by sharing your photos and leaving us a review on our facebook page at www.facebook.com/offthebeatentack

May the wind always be at your back and the sun upon your face!

Skipper Jimmy

Off The Beaten Tack founder

Please click & complete the form below as soon as possible

Click and complete this form

Santorini to Mykonos

Names and ages of guests *

Passport Numbers & Nationalitys *

E-Mail Address of persons travelling *

Mobile Telephone number for guests *

(inc. international code)

Any special dietary requirements?

Any medical condition or disability we should know about?

Flight or Ferry ETA at island where you join the yacht (if known)

Next of Kin name, address and contact e-mail / telephone *

Any other relevant info

Thank you!

Packing checklist

To make things easy, here’s a kit checklist! All optional of course.

Swimsuits

Beach towels for sunbathing

T-shirts

Shorts

Casual evening wear

Windproof jacket

Sun hat

Sunglasses with lanyard

Sunscreen/sun cream

Lip salve/screen

Toiletries (all-in-one shampoo/shower gels can be handy)

Prescription medicines

Ipod/music device – so you can play DJ (and charger)

Passport / visa

Driving licence

Holiday insurance

EU medical card

Euros /credit or debit card

Camera with batteries and 12v (car plug) charger

Fleece or sweater

Warm trousers

Flashlight

Laundry and on shore shower facilities are available at some ports. Hair driers draw a lot of current and may not work on the boat unless we are alongside with 220v hook ups. Try going without for the week.

Knowing the Ropes

You can play as much or as little a part in sailing the yacht, but here are some technical terms for you to learn to help you orient yourself aboard:

Sailing Operations

Tacking: turning the bow through the wind onto the opposite tackGybing: turning the bow with the wind onto the opposite tackRound up: turning the boat exactly bow into the wind to stop moving forwardLeeway: the amount a boat is pushed off course by the effect of the windAnchor up: Drop the anchor and stop for a whileMoor: Tie up to a buoy or in a harbourLines: Lines, not ropes Halyards: for pulling up and letting down the sailsFurling lines: to set and take away the sailsSheets: to adjust the sails during sailingShrouds: the wire rigging either side of the mast holding it upForestay: the wire cable at the bow to the top of the mastBackstay: you guessed it.... the wire cable from the stern to the top of the mastTopping lift: the line supporting the boom from the top of the mastMooring line: line connecting the yacht to the harbour or pontoonGround lines: anchor line holding the bow when moored ‘stern to’

Parts of the Yacht

Hull: the ‘body’ of the boatDeck: upper level of the boatBelow: everywhere below deckGalley: the kitchenHeads: the toilet, shower and washroomsCockpit: area at the back from where we steer and operate the sailsBow: the front of the boatStern: back of the boat near cockpitHelm: steering wheelHelmsman: Person at the helm, not necessarily the skipperStarboard: right hand side of the boat when you are looking forwardPort: left hand side of the boat when you are looking forwardMast: vertical pole supporting the sailsBoom: horizontal beam attached to the mast and bottom of the main sailMainsail: large sail fixed at the rear of the mast with boom at the bottomGenoa: the triangular sail at the bow in front of the mastLazy jacks: the net of lines guiding the sail over the boom when it is loweredFender: inflated plastic bumper used to avoid damage of the hull when mooredWinch: drum to help pull in control lines for sailsMain Anchor: the anchor at the bow of the yachtKedge anchor: the anchor at the stern of the yacht. Cleat: a 'bollard' to secure a line to especially halyards and mooring linesClutch: a device to hold a line securelyGuard rails: the wire 'fence' around the deck